Part 4


The ride back from the Anderson ranch was filled with tension. Justin worried about when to leave, and when to tell JC he was leaving. He still felt as if he owed JC for helping him, but knew his time here was coming to an end. He did better on the short term anyway, he thought, never staying in one place too long.

JC, too, was silent and tense, but for whatever reason, Justin didn’t know. He’d stayed with Zeus as JC conducted his business with the Anderson’s, and didn’t hear any of their conversations. But he’d come out of the house quiet and pensive, instructing Justin to get onto the wagon. The Anderson’s had been out on the porch seeing them off, the girl, Kati, smiling broadly and waving like a maniac.

They arrived back at JC’s place around sunset. JC jumped off the wagon and went into the house without a word. Justin took Zeus to the stable, unhitching the wagon and settling in the horse for the night. The sun was all but gone by the time Justin returned to the house. He entered into the kitchen, surprised to find no food being prepared, and no sign of JC. He stopped short at the doorway to the front room, spying JC seated in a chair by the window, a bottle of whisky in his hand. “I’ll make dinner,” Justin said quietly. No answer.

Justin went to the larder, pulled out some bacon and bread and butter. He cut thick slices of the meat, setting then in a skillet on the stove to cook. Justin sliced the bread, spreading the rich butter on each slice before pulling the bacon off the stove. He quickly assembled the sandwiches, cutting them in half before placing one on a plate. He brought it into JC, and placed it on the table next to him.

“What’s that?” JC asked, pouring more whiskey into his glass.

“A bacon sandwich,” Justin said, pushing the plate closer to JC.

JC drained his glass, then refilled it. “Not hungry.”

“JC…”

“Go away, Justin.” He finished more whisky.

Justin returned to the kitchen, sitting at the table to eat his own sandwich. He wondered why JC was suddenly so intent on getting drunk. What had happened to make him do this? Justin finished his sandwich and cleaned up the kitchen. With one last check on JC, who was still drinking steadily, he passed back through the kitchen to his cot in the mudroom.

He slipped off his boots, but didn’t undress. His mind was racing with thoughts. Thoughts about today…about that girl…his reaction to seeing her with JC…his decision to leave…JC’s behavior. He tossed fretfully for quite some time, finally falling into a light sleep.

A loud crash shattered the night silence, making Justin shoot upright on his cot. He looked outside, noting it was very dark indeed. No moonlight was visible, and the stars where covered as well. Again, a crash sounded from the front room, and Justin scampered off the cot and ran through the kitchen.

JC was standing in the middle of the front room, the empty bottle of whisky shattered at his feet. Justin stopped short of the broken glass, mindful of his bare feet. “JC?”

“Guess I dropped it, huh?” JC said, the words slurring.

Justin’s gaze dropped to JC’s feet, thankful the other man was still shod. He held out a hand. “JC,” he said. “Come here, please.”

JC lifted his hand, giving Justin the chance to grab it and pull the other man away from the broken glass. JC wavered in his steps, and Justin reached out a hand to steady him.

JC smiled sloppily. “I’m kinda drunk, Jussin,” he whispered loudly, his breath reeking of whiskey. He leaned into Justin bonelessly.

Justin struggled to keep him upright. “Yes, I can see that,” he agreed, pulling JC close. “But I think you need to go to bed now.”

“No no no!” JC protested, shaking his head. He draped his arms over Justin’s shoulders. “Need more whiskey.”

Justin walked the two of them backwards toward JC’s bedroom. “No, JC,” he argued. “Bed.” He felt JC’s legs hit the bed stand, and pushed lightly, tumbling the other man down. Justin bent down and removed JC’s boots, pulling the man’s legs up until they were on the bed as well. He pulled a quilt from a chair and spread it over JC. “Good night, JC,” he said.

“You’re gonna leave me, aren’t you, Jussin.”

Justin paused at the doorway at JC’s words. “What…why do you say that?” he asked.

JC struggled to sit up, only making it half way by propping himself up with his elbows. “Because I can tell…you’re gonna go.” JC sighed and laid back down. “Maybe it’s for the best.”

Justin’s heart sank at JC’s words. “You want me to go?” he asked.

“NO!” JC shouted, trying to get up again.

Justin walked back over to the bed, pushing JC back down onto the bed. “JC, lay down,” he said, his hands on JC’s shoulders.

Justin felt JC’s hands come up and grasp his own. “Don’t leave, please,” he begged. “I promise I won’t do anything…promise, Jussin…just don’t go.”

Justin’s hands felt warm in JC’s. “What happened today, JC?” JC shook his head, his grasp tightening on Justin’s hands. “Please, JC,” Justin asked again. “What happened at the Anderson place?’

JC sighed, bringing Justin’s hands to his mouth. “They want me to marry Kati,” he mumbled, his lips covered by Justin’s hands.

Justin’s hands were now tingling, JC’s lips roaming over them with abandon. “What’s wrong with that?” Justin asked, his breath catching as he felt JC’s tongue on his palm. JC was kissing his hands. Kissing. His hands.

“Don’t want to,” JC insisted, licking a wide swatch of Justin’s skin before nibbling against the rapidly beating pulse in his wrist. “No…don’t wanna marry Kati.”

Justin’s heart beat faster. “Why don’t you want to marry Kati, JC?” he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.

JC grabbed the back of Justin’s neck, pulling the other man’s face close. There was just enough light in the room to see JC’s bright eyes. “Because I want you,” he whispered against Justin’s lips…then fell limp against the bed.

Justin stood frozen next to the bed, his mind racing trying to absorb what had just happened.

It couldn’t be true.

It was the whiskey.

Justin must be dreaming.

JC must be insane.

He looked at his hands, still tingling from JC’s hands and lips and tongue. Maybe, just maybe, Justin wouldn’t be leaving after all.



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